MacGregorSailors.com

hi all,
last month i had gotten a 1983 macgregor 22 for free! i had seen it sitting in a neighbors back yard for the past 5 years untouched. so i finally asked if they were interested in parting with the boat which they said they would. it was filthy, tires dry rotted, the teak is all pretty bad so i knew there was some work to be done. the lady had gone into the house to get paper for my number so she could talk to her husband and decide on a price and let me know so i know if i was willing to pay it. she came out and said her husband said that since i wanted it and would get it out of the yard i could have it for free! i was on top of that!
so i find out it had not been registered since 99. i got the boat home, cleaned it some and assessed what i thought needed to be done.
so the motor (1978 chrysler 6hp) for sure needs to be looked into. if they cant get that running i will have them find a different running one to put on it. if they can get it running then they will replace the throttle cable and the forward/reverse cable. i also need the electrical all rewired cause i figure that is the safest thing since it had been sitting for 10+ years. they had est approx 2000 for everything i want done.

so that is the main things that have to be done to make it usable but it also needs new cushions on the inside, the wood needs to be replaced, and all the lines/ropes need to be bougt new.
fortunately the sails seem to be in good usable condition and the hull is solid with no leaks.

any advice on where to get the needed equipment, places to find it, pricing?

and to top it all, i dont know how to sail!!!
but the good things the local marina has lessons we are going to take. 6 2 hour lessons that each "class" is 2 people per instructor for 175 each.

any and all advice will be apreciated
thanks
for any help
ryan

Ryan,

If you have the cash to get done what needs to be done, and you are OK with it, then the only advise I have is to, enjoy
Take it slow, and enjoy

Ray

Ryan - if you are going to be lake sailing then you really dont need anything electrical at this point.

Get tires (200 USD), new halyards/sheets (400 USd) and get it out on the water and see if you like it!

The 22 has a swing keel IIRC so you need to have a look at that and make sure it is secure - if you lose it, you wont be able to find another one easily.

have fun.

Well so far, I have replaced the trailer tires with used ones and took the bearings off the trailer and had a shop make sure they were in good condition and re grease them which for all that only cost me $50.
I had read in some postings here to replace the winch cable for the keel every few years so I plan on getting the cable replaced also.
Halyards/sheets huh? Not sure about that but I'm assuming that is the sail lines. And yes I for sure need to get those. Where can I find online a place to buy all the lines I need that fit my boat?
My sailing will be done on lake michigan near the chicago area.

You can buy new rope for the halyards and sheets at any marine store, by the foot. I bought mine at West Marine two years ago....$1-something/foot. Plenty of different colors now-a-days, too.

Is there a marina you could take the boat to and have someone help you rig and look over everything for you? Check the standing rigging and sails out. Just a thought...
Mike
V2-22
Lindale TX

Welcome to sailing ! The first thing ( or at least at night when your not working on the boat ) I would recommend is getting some books to learn the basics of sailing. For me the best one was "Learning To Sail", by Di Goodman, and Ian Brodie
I also bought "Sailing for Dummies" but didn't like it as much, it was too complicated ( ironic ) And there are others.

I would keep it as basic, and spend as little as you have to get on the water and find out if sailing is for you. Of coarse I can't imagine anybody not liking it, but I'm sure there must be some

JoeVacs wrote: I also bought "Sailing for Dummies" but didn't like it as much, it was too complicated ( ironic ) And there are others.

I made a point of never buying a book in that for dummies series because I am not ! Obviously some of the authors of these books seem to be !!
Q1

Welcome aboard. Take the lessons at your marina on both there boat and yours.

Ryan
Check out Roy at Superior Marine in Michigan City. He has been selling and rigging Macs for several years. Very knowledgable and very reasonably priced. He can help with any problems you mighthave and answer any questions. I would suggest 1st, taking the ABC boating course from the USPS local squadron. Than take thier sailing course, It is a land based, book course but very informative. Also the Indiana/Michigan/Illinois are should have some really good people willing to teach you the "ropes" on the water.
I bought my Mac 10 years go and had never been on a sailboat. Roy and his crew helped me quite a bit, and now I love the boat. If you are ever on the east shore of Lk Michigan (South Haven, Mi) let me know and we can go out .
Welcome aboard and Fair Winds
Lt/C Wally, USPS/KSPS
Captain of J.A.W.S.

Fixing up the boat helps one get acquainted with the "stuff" and basics. Messing with your own boat is FUN, when getting stuff prepared, updated, and doing the work yourself.
When ready for the water trials...have someone with you experienced.

A tip: have a good dependable engine.

Years ago, I picked up a "basic" bare boat, and did a fix up without sailing experience. It was a fine fun event. Several boats later, and up to the present boat, I'm still learning. (bumping a channel marker piling when NOT paying attention recently was definately a learning experience )

Happy sailing !

I hear it is said that the two happiest moments for a sailor are when he first gets his boat and when he finally gets rid of it. Best wishes and many happy advertures!

cub21rak wrote:hi all,
last month i had gotten a 1983 macgregor 22 for free! i had seen it sitting in a neighbors back yard for the past 5 years untouched. so i finally asked if they were interested in parting with the boat which they said they would. it was filthy, tires dry rotted, the teak is all pretty bad so i knew there was some work to be done. the lady had gone into the house to get paper for my number so she could talk to her husband and decide on a price and let me know so i know if i was willing to pay it. she came out and said her husband said that since i wanted it and would get it out of the yard i could have it for free! i was on top of that!
so i find out it had not been registered since 99. i got the boat home, cleaned it some and assessed what i thought needed to be done.
so the motor (1978 chrysler 6hp) for sure needs to be looked into. if they cant get that running i will have them find a different running one to put on it. if they can get it running then they will replace the throttle cable and the forward/reverse cable. i also need the electrical all rewired cause i figure that is the safest thing since it had been sitting for 10+ years. they had est approx 2000 for everything i want done.

so that is the main things that have to be done to make it usable but it also needs new cushions on the inside, the wood needs to be replaced, and all the lines/ropes need to be bougt new.
fortunately the sails seem to be in good usable condition and the hull is solid with no leaks.

any advice on where to get the needed equipment, places to find it, pricing?

and to top it all, i dont know how to sail!!!
but the good things the local marina has lessons we are going to take. 6 2 hour lessons that each "class" is 2 people per instructor for 175 each.

any and all advice will be apreciated
thanks
for any help
ryan

Joe, good idea about reading up. I plan on getting up to the library to to check out some books and info.

Wally, that Sounds like an awesome offer. My wife and I might have to make a day out of it and take a trip up. I think I would be neat. We will for sure make our way to Michigan city soon and see what we can get set up there.


We will be taking to sailing lessons at the Hammond marina soon. I hope they would teach us sailing while on our own boat, it would make it alot easier to learn while on ours.

Ryan - West Marine is in Michigan City (20-30 miles away or so?) - there are probably a number of places near the Lake since Great Lakes boating is huge of course.

Online, my favourite is Defender in CT - good prices, customer service

www.defender.com

Ryan
Sounds good. Any time yo want a ride and are up in the S.W. Michigan area let me know. PM me whenever. There are many marinas in the Ill/Ind./Michigan coast and most would be happy to help when asked. M.C. has a nice WM as does Chicago.
Good Luck, and hope to see you on the lake the summer

Wally